Sampson OppedisanoExecutive Assistant to the Dean, The Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy

Nov 02 , 2018

The departure of Ambassador Nikki Haley, a strong force for U.S. policies at the UN, illustrates a looming question: as the U.S. withdraws from the multilateral system it built, who will fill the void? China may be next.

Vice President Mike Pence’s speech at the Hudson Institute signaled a far tougher American line on China. It is worth considering the Trump administration’s motivations for taking such an adversarial public stance now.

Washington’s sudden hostility to its former role as a guardian of global stability has raised questions about how the international order will evolve. At the UN this week, Trump slammed multilateral diplomacy and global cooperation. President Xi Jinping of China (who was absent from the UN meetings) has continued to embrace these ideals.

What is America’s plan to lead in the 21st century? Without focus and strategic investment, the U.S. is at risk of losing in the game of global leadership – and facing a future where America does not occupy a dominant position.